"Is this your plan for the next week and a bit?" Alice asked, nudging her head towards the stack of books on my writing desk.

"Why?" I put my hairbrush down and raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you have a better idea?"

"Any idea is better than the one you're using. I'm surprised Miss Edwards hasn't died of boredom these past few days."

"Then what's your idea? I'm assuming you have one or you wouldn't be in here."

Alice's eyes widened slightly, surprise crossing her face for a brief second in response to my statement. I hadn't intended it to sound so harsh, that had been the opposite of my intention, but I didn't appreciate her waltzing into my bedroom and thinking she knew better than I did. It was bad enough when Father did it and I didn't expect it from my younger sister, especially as she had spent such little time with Rebecca in recent days.

If she had wanted to help me, she could have come to help at any other point in the week, but she hadn't. Father had been adamant that she be with me during my meetings with Rebecca, and yet she hadn't been there once. Instead, I had left the door partially open to prevent any talk from the servants, although I didn't think they would do such a thing. If Alice wanted to help, she should have offered it immediately, not several days later.

"I just thought Miss Edwards might like some fresh air. She's been cooped up in that room since she got here. It's enough to put anyone in the asylum. A change of scenery and some fresh air might be just what she needs."

"Do you think it will help?"

"It won't do her any harm. It won't do you any harm, either."

"Me? This isn't about me."

Alice shrugged. "It partially is, Nate. You need to do something fun for a change and stop obsessing over Miss Edwards or you are going to send yourself to the asylum."

"I'm fine, Alice."

"No, you're not. George told me about Father inviting Mrs Marlow for supper and it doesn't take a genius to work out why he extended the invitation. You need a break as much as anyone else, and I'm sure that Lightning could do with a ride. He's been cooped up in his stall for several days."

I let out a small, exacerbated sigh, knowing I had been beaten. "Fine."

"Excellent. I shall go and ask Miss Edwards, and you can go down to the stables and have Oliver tack up Lightning. We will meet you outside."

With a smug smile, Alice walked from the room with a small bounce in her step as she went. Although I hated to admit it, she had a point. I had been so devoted to figuring out what happened to Rebecca that I had neglected Lightning and myself in the process. A ride around the grounds with Lightning was exactly what I needed to try to cool my head and forget about my conversation with Father the previous day.

I quickly changed into more appropriate riding attire and left my room, throwing myself down the stairs so I might have Lightning tacked up by the time the girls appeared. Excitement bubbled up inside of me and I felt like a child on Christmas morning as I stepped out the front door and crossed the grass. The sun blazed and the dry grass crunched under my feet as I ran towards the stable.

The door to the stable had been propped up, no doubt to prevent the horses from overheating, as I approached. I stepped inside, a tad winded from my run across the grass, but far more relaxed than I had been that morning. Sweat beaded on my forehead, but I wicked it away with the back of my hand and approached Oliver, who looked at me with a raised eyebrow and a broom in hand.

"What can I do for you, sir?" he asked.

"Could you get Lightning tacked up for me?"

"Yes, of course." He placed the broom against one of the stalls. "What do you have planned for the day?"

"Just a ride around the grounds. I thought Lightning could do with the exercise and, frankly, I could do with a bit of fresh air."

"I expect he will enjoy it. Truth is, sir, he's been a little unsettled since Joseph left and nothing seems to help. He perked up a little after your visit yesterday, but once again became unsettled once he realised you would not be riding him."

Oliver led me down the stables to Lightning's stall. Lightning's ears pricked upon seeing me and he whinnied slightly, nodding his head. I stood off to the side and allowed him to start tacking up Lightning, who could hardly stand still. In all the years I had owned him, Lightning usually behaved himself when he was being tacked up. His reaction was not one I had seen before, but it made sense, given what Oliver had said.

"Have you heard from Joseph since he left?" I asked, guilt poking at my chest. It hadn't even crossed my mind to ask George about Joseph the day before. I had been so focused on Rebecca that I had forgotten all about him, even though it was my fault he lost his position with us.

"Yes, once. I had to go to the village the other day, and I stopped by the Inn to see how he was doing." Oliver secured Lightning's saddle. "He seemed alright, said he missed us, and Lightning, but he's got a decent position over there."

"Good. I'm glad he's doing alright."

"I expect he wouldn't mind seeing you and Lightning. Who knows, maybe it will improve Lightning's mood."

"Maybe."

I scratched my chin awkwardly, well aware of what Oliver was implying, even if he didn't say the words himself. It had nothing to do with improving Lightning's mood, although there was little doubt in my mind that seeing Joseph may help him, and more to do with me. Joseph had no doubt told him that he hadn't decided to leave his position with us but had been forced out by Father because of me.

Oliver blamed me for what happened to Joseph, that much was clear, but he couldn't blame me half as much as I blamed myself. There were so many things I should have done differently that night but didn't, and I had all but forgotten about Joseph and what had happened. I needed to go into the village to see him, to apologise for what I did. I had to put it right.

After Oliver had finished tacking up Lightning, a task that took a little longer than usual given his unsettled nature, I led him out of the stables and into the warm summer air. Alice and Rebecca had yet to appear, and I knew they were most likely trying to find something for Rebecca to wear. She had been in her nightdress since her first night with us and had nothing else to change into. I had lived with Alice long enough to understand that it took a long time to choose the correct dress.

Lightning tugged at the reins, nodding his head.

"Alright, I get the message."

I patted Lightning's neck and threw the reins over his head. He remained still for the first time that morning and allowed me to slip my foot into the stirrup and swing my leg over him. I sat back in the seat, squeezing my legs against Lightning to move him into a walk. We walked around the grounds for a few seconds whilst I readjusted my position in the seat to make it more comfortable for both of us.

With Lightning already full of energy, I pushed him from the walk into a canter and quickly into a gallop, the two of us embracing the speed at which we moved around the grounds. Although it had only been a few days since our last ride around the grounds, it felt like the first time I had climbed on his back and ridden him over the grounds. The wind in my hair, the rush of excitement travelling through my body, the breath being sucked from my lungs at the speed.

All of my problems just disappeared.

"You look like a madman!" Alice called.

I pulled Lightning to a stop and turned to look at the front steps, where Alice stood with Rebecca by her side. "It's part of my charm."

"Just come here."

I laughed, squeezing my legs against Lightning's side and pulling on the reins. We walked across the grounds to the steps, where I dismounted, still a little out of breath, and readjusted Lightning's reins. He appeared more content than he had been before we set out; the ride had done wonders for both of us.

"Was there any point in you brushing your hair this morning? You look as though someone has dragged you backwards through a hedge."

"I have to at least pretend I'm a respectful gentleman."

"A gentleman is something you will never be, Nate, no matter how hard you try." Alice laughed. "Now, I think Lightning might want to meet his new friend."

"Lightning wants to eat all the grass and then some."

I took hold of Lightning's reins and turned to Rebecca, who had been standing in the shadows whilst Alice and I spoke. In the time that I had been out riding, Rebecca had changed from her borrowed nightgown into a pale yellow dress of Alice's. Her dark hair had been brushed and plaited down her back and Alice had given her one of her straw hats to keep the sun out of her eyes. She looked like any other girl.

"Miss Edwards, this is Lightning. I was riding him when I first saw you in the trees," I said.

"I remember."

"He also fell off, which was funny to watch."

"It wasn't funny to experience. Those bruises took ages to disappear." I tugged on the reins to get Lightning's attention. "You can stroke him. He doesn't bite. Unless you have food in your hand, in which case he is likely to try to take it off."

Rebecca took a few tentative steps forward, appearing a little unsteady on her feet, but Alice remained by her side just in case anything happened. She walked down the steps and onto the grass where I stood with Lightning. Slowly, she reached a handout and gently ran it down Lightning's nose. He pressed back against her hand, his nose moving as he tried to sniff out any food that she might have to give him.

"He reminds me of my father's horse," Rebecca said, her voice low as she ran her hand over Lightning's nose.

"What was his name?" I paused. "The horse, not your father."

"Abacus. His name was Abacus."

"Like the mathematics instrument?"

She nodded.

"A good horse's name, although I'm not sure he'd be very good at mathematics. Unless Lightning has been misleading me, although he's just a stupid horse overall."

Alice looked at me with a raised eyebrow and shook her head. "You're an idiot. Why Father thinks now is the right time to start looking for a suitable match for you is beyond me."

"Me too."

She turned to Rebecca. "Would you like to meet the rest of the horses? My Genesis is a beautiful beast with the most gentle disposition ever found on a horse."

"Yes, alright."

"Nate?"

"I think I'll take Lightning for another ride. He's still a little restless. I'll let you two spend some time together."

"How thoughtful."

Alice placed a light hand on Rebecca's arm and led her across the grass towards the stables, her hand resting on her arm the entire time. Even though Rebecca didn't look too steady on her feet, I was pleased to see her out of bed and walking around. Alice had been right, she had needed a little fresh air.

They disappeared out of sight, and I scrambled back onto Lightning's back, ready for another ride around the grounds. Although the initial ride had helped to clear my mind a little, something had pushed its way to the forefront.

When Rebecca had told us the name of her father's horse, it stirred something up at the back of my mind, but I didn't know what it was. I was sure I had heard of a horse named Abacus long ago. There was a faint memory, the flash of a white horse, but I could remember nothing of its rider or whose horse it had belonged to. It just seemed awfully familiar to me for some reason.

I pushed Lightning into a trot and resolved to ask George about it. He had to have some knowledge of a horse named Abacus. He knew almost everyone in the village and had one of the best memories of any man I knew. If anyone could solve the mystery, it would be him. I just had to find the opportunity to ask him about it.

If I could unlock the memory somehow, I might be able to find out just where Rebecca had come from, but I just couldn't think of what it could be.

"Let's go a bit faster, boy," I said to Lightning, patting his neck, "I've got some thinking to do."

~~~

A/N - We are back with Chapter Seventeen! I'm pleased to announce I've pre-written several chapters so uploads won't stop for ONC! There is drama ahead, so be prepared!

Questions!

Do you think Nate needs a bit of a break? Will he find out who Abacus belongs to? 

Comment below!

First Published - January 31st, 2023